AP English Language and Composition

Not only what writers (or speakers) say, but also how they choose to say it, communicates something about themselves, their relationship to their audience, the world, and their subjects. In AP Lang, students learn both how to critically consume others' arguments through rhetorical analysis and how to creatively construct their own argument and synthesis papers, becoming effective readers and writers of language and the world.

What are the major projects you will complete in this course?

Students will write essays in rhetorical analysis, argument, and synthesis, with an emphasis on writing under timed conditions. Students' close reading ability is assessed with multiple choice questions. The second semester final exam is a complete mock AP Language Exam, including multiple choice and free response questions. Finally, students apply their skills and create an argument vlog to conclude the course.

Advanced Placement exam is available for this course.

Advanced Placement (AP) exams are available for this course. For more information on Advanced Placement, click here.

Course Details

Brenda Baisley

"You should take this course if you are an avid reader of news and nonfiction, you would like to become a more critical consumer of media, you enjoy deconstructing arguments, and you want to elevate your writing to a university level."

AP English Language and Composition

ID: 41028 Grade: 11-12 Length: YearCredit: EnglishPrerequisite: Semester I grade of B+ or higher in English 10/American Studies is required to select this course in 11th grade. Students with a Semester I grade of B in English 10/American Studies or a Semester I grade of A+ in English 9/World Studies may seek an override which requires approval from current English teacher, counselor, and English department chair.Note: This course has a grade point weighting of 0.5.

AP English Language and Composition is a university-level course in which students read and write for a variety of rhetorical purposes. Over the course of one year, students will learn skills of rhetorical analysis, argument, and argumentative synthesis. Texts for the course vary and are drawn from any rhetorical situation from the last four centuries, requiring students to respond to both current controversies and enduring philosophical questions. Juniors planning to take AP Language and Composition are cautioned: successful completion of the course requires a much greater effort and is significantly more demanding than English 10. Students best suited to this course are avid, proficient readers, attuned to current events, and interested in understanding the power of language to shape our identities, our perceptions, and our world. Students will be prepared for and will be strongly encouraged to sit for the AP exam in May.

What Our Students Say

Be confident with your writing. Students often talk about the tough grading style or a big jump from English 10 to AP English Language and Composition, but if you're confident in your abilities, you will inevitably find success in the course. The course is structured so that students are constantly exploring different styles of academic writing, so even if a particular style doesn't suit you, you will quickly move on to another unit. The rigorous grading and writing schedules are the most demanding parts of this course. It takes a few months to acclimate to the high quality of writing expected of you from this class. However, after the adjusting period is over, you will see incredible progress in your writing from before taking the course to your current level.”